Authorities in Japan have set a launch date for trials of their biometric payments system. It will go live in certain areas starting October 1st.
The concept first came to light this past spring with reports that the Japanese government, together with Dai Nippon Printing and Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting, was exploring technology that would allow tourists to check into hotels, fill out visitor forms, and make payments using only their fingerprints. It isn’t clear if similar technology being developed by Japan-based startup Liquid Inc. is officially a part of that effort or merely adjacent, but that company is also reportedly getting backing from the government and certain actors in the domestic financial services and technology sectors.
Now, Bangkok Post reports that a biometric payment system will go live next month at hotels and popular tourist locations in the Kanto area near Tokyo, and in additional deployments in the Kansai and Kyushu regions. Tourists will reportedly be asked to register their fingerprints upon arrival, with the biometric data linked directly to their financial accounts.
It’s only a trial at the moment, but the Japanese government is aiming to use the system widely during the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, ostensibly to collect valuable data on tourists activity.
Source: Bangkok Post
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September 28, 2016 – by Alex Perala
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